Despite surge, Mohali MC holds first House meeting

Sanjay Bumbroo

Tribune News Service

Mohali, April 27

Opposition members in the Mohali Municipal Corporation today raised the issue of holding the meeting when the district administration had put the restrictions on gathering of more than 10 persons amid surge of Covid cases in the district.

The MC’s first House meeting chaired by Mayor Amarjit Singh Jiti Sidhu was convened to set up the Finance and Contract Committee (F&CC).

Municipal Commissioner Kamal Kumar Garg, while clarifying the issue, said there was no such restriction on meetings of elected councillors. He said they followed all norms. The area was sanitised, all councillors were wearing face mask and social distancing was well maintained.

Mayor Amarjit Singh Sidhu said the first meeting was important and no Covid rules were violated. It was also an introductory meeting and city residents would see change in the next six months.

Sukhdev Singh Patwari, councillor of the Azad Group of former Mayor Kulwant Singh, said they should have called a virtual meeting and even Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu had warned of rising cases in Mohali and directed to follow all precautions.

Meanwhile, the House had also empowered the Mayor to elect F&CC members and their financial limit had been increased from Rs20 lakh to Rs1 crore. The members also approved Rs10 lakh annually for ward development fund for the councillors in their respective wards and that too without seeking the consent of the House and the F&CC.

The House also increased the financial power of MC Commissioner from Rs25,000 to Rs2 lakh for carrying out any emergency development work and the Commissioner would not have to take consent from the House or F&CC members.